Voluntary and Community Action Sunderland
Compact
The Sunderland Compact aims to make the National Compact a reality at local level by strengthening working relationships between voluntary and community sector organisations and local public sector organisations.
 
 
What is a Compact?
Compact is an agreement between government and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) to improve their relationships for mutual advantage and community gain. 
 
The Sunderland Compact should be seen as an enabling mechanism to enhance the existing relationship between statutory organisations and the voluntary and community sector.
 
The Compact recognises the complementary role and diversity of organisations across Sunderland's Voluntary and Community Sector; the value of the sector in the design, development and delivery of policy and services; the critical role of the sector; and the importance of its continued independence.
 
The Compact has been adopted by agencies involved in the Sunderland Partnership, and Voluntary and Community Sector organisations across Sunderland, for the benefit of the people of Sunderland, and supports the delivery of the Sunderland Strategy vision: Creating a better future for everyone in Sunderland: 
  • Sunderland will be a welcoming, international city where people have the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations for a healthy, safe and prosperous future.
  • The Sunderland Compact is signed by individual organisations of the Sunderland Partnership and individual Voluntary and Community Sector organisations in Sunderland.
  • The implementation of this Compact and supporting Codes of Practice within organisations is the individual responsibility of signatories. Where organisations do not follow these commitments, they must satisfy themselves that, if asked, they have good reasons for not doing so.
The Sunderland Compact and its supporting Codes of Practice have been endorsed by the Sunderland Partnership.
 
The five codes of practice including equality strands agreed so far:
Work is continuing to develop further codes of practice for other equalities strands. 

Useful links

VCAS Chief Officer attends the Compact Implementation Group for Sunderland together with representatives of multi agencey organisations such as; Tyne & Wear Fire Services, Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, Sunderland University, to name but a few.  To see what's been discussed why not go to the Sunderland Partnership website/compact and have a look!

if you would like an update on the Compact here in Sunderland or want to know if it's right for your organisation to sign up to Compact, why not give Gillian a ring here at VCAS on 0191 5651566.

 
 
Compact Corner

.......................................................................................................................

The Compact Implementation Group met again for the first time in 2012 and have a hectic agenda for the year ahead. Having revisited the Communications plan, it is hoped that there will be real opportunity for the sector in Sunderland to get on board.

Why not sign up to the Compact in Sunderland ? there are 113 organisations in the city signed up and we hope more organisations sign up in 2012. To see who has signed up visit www.sunderlandcompact.org.uk or contact VCAS for more information.

As mentioned earlier, the Compact Implementation Group continue to meet on a quarterly basis to take forward all matters around compact and its implementation.  As well as the Compact implementation group there is also a sub group namely the External Funding working group (EFWG) whos's role is to facilitate funding opportunties for the city.  The group sources all funding opportunities and ensures information is disemminated to partners including the VCS,  ensuring that every opportunity is realised wherever possible, so the people of Sunderland benefit from any inward investment to the city. 
Voluntary & Community Action Sunderland would encourage any VCS organisation to sign up for partnership funding.  If you are interested in being part of a partnership bid, sign up today and ensure you receive details as and when the opportunities arise.  Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us on 0191 565 1566 to sign up to the Partnership Funding database

National Compact
2012 is shaping up to be another big year for Compact.  The original Sunderland Compact was signed in 2008 and just like everything else its time it was reviewed in light of governmental changes and of course the current climate.  The National Audit Commission has just reviewed governements implementation of the National Compact and the findings can be found on the national audits website. It is interesting that it still includes the need for accountability measures which include writing Compact outcomes into departmental business plans. The new document has the broad support of key sector organisations; now it’s time to make it really work across the country.http://www.nao.org.uk//idoc.ashx?docId=1088a095-4a20-4df4-8966-f4b675e3fa55&version=-1

What can the Compact do for me?
A genuine partnership allows each partner to achieve more. The Government and the third sector use the Compact as a framework for partnership working because it recognises and supports the contribution they can each make to improving the lives of individuals and communities. Working together in this way also brings wider benefits, such as the creation of stronger working relationships across government and the third sector, underpinned by mutual understanding, trust and respect.

The Compact sets out how the Government and the third sector can get the most out of partnership working by meeting their respective commitments. Implementing the Compact can help
partners achieve:

  • Equity in relationships
  • Informed policy decisions, based on the expert knowledge of groups working directly with people on the ground
  • Better programme funding that more closely reflects the needs of users
  • Progress towards a more equal society, by identifying and tackling inequality and discrimination
  • Value for money.